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Barney Frank says he's interested in Senate job

Barney Frank, U.S. senator? The newly retired House member says that's a job he'd like to do -- even if only on a temporary basis. The Democrat said Friday on MSNBC that he has asked Massachusetts Gov. Deval

Barney Frank says he's interested in Senate job

Democrat Barney Frank of Massachusetts retired from Congress after 32 years in office.(Photo: Lawrence Jackson, AP)

Barney Frank, U.S. senator? The newly retired House member says that's a job he'd like to do -- even if only on a temporary basis.

The Democrat said during an interview Friday on MSNBC that he has asked Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to consider him for a short-term appointment for the seat of John Kerry, who has been nominated to be the next secretary of State. Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, is expected to be easily confirmed by his fellow senators.

"I'm not going to be coy. It's not something I've ever been good at," said Frank, an outspoken liberal who retired from Congress after 32 years. "I've told the governor that I would now like frankly to do that because I would like to be part of that. It's only a three-month period. I wouldn't want to do anything more."

The prospect of Frank, an artful debater with a rapier wit, joining what's sometimes called the world's greatest deliberative body could be a dream come true for political junkies.

Under Massachusetts law, the governor appoints a senator upon a vacancy until a special election can be held. In this case, that election probably wouldn't occur until the spring -- so the appointment isn't for long.

Kerry's expected departure opens a chance for Republican Scott Brown, who was defeated in November, to make a return to the Senate.

Democratic Rep. Ed Markey has declared his intention to run, and has received support from Kerry, Sen. Michael Bennet, the chairman of the Senate campaign committee, and Victoria Kennedy, the widow of Edward Kennedy. There are other Democrats who are said to be thinking about the Senate race.